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Lampe..

.. will play on the summer camp Teams have used as an excuse an NBA e-mail alerting them to Lampe's contract problems. The biggest factor in Lampe's drop, the Knicks believe, is the agent not letting non-lottery teams work him out. Most teams scouted just a couple of his games.

"The Knicks got a break," one lottery-team executive said. "Sometimes teams aren't flexible enough to change their plan. It's a great excuse, the contract, instead of saying we didn't do our homework. Those contract things always get worked out."

Keith Kreiter, Lampe's agent, said, "Teams overanalyzed it and made a mistake. He's got as much upside as anyone after the top three."

When converted, the buyout figure is roughly $2 million. Since the Knicks are permitted under the CBA to pay just $350,000, Lampe would have to foot the rest.

Unless they dip into their $4.9M mid-level exception for free agents, the Knicks can only pay a second-round pick the NBA minimum $400,000. Even though Lampe makes substantially less in Spain, he still would come out losing money.

However, Kreiter said the $2M buyout figure is "very negotiable" and their aim is to reduce the figure by being "creative." The Knicks are willing to play an exhibition game in Madrid and conduct coaching clinics for Real Madrid's staff. As a model, Pau Gasol's buyout clause in Spain was $3M but reduced to less than $1M with agreements to play an exhibition game.

The NBA e-mail that allegedly scared off teams read, "We recently advised teams that we received a letter of clearance from FIBA. The letter of clearance is in error." The e-mail reported a buyout clause exists with Real Madrid.

Mike Sweetney, whom the Knicks took at No. 9 to fill their low-post void, doesn't have the upside of Lampe, but he's read y to fit into the rotation immediately. In fact, Don Chaney declared that if Antonio McDyess isn't ready by training camp, the starting power forward position is open. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Although the 18-year-old forward still has not finalized a contract buyout, Real Madrid's change of heart indicates a willingness to get a deal done soon. The Post has been told the Polish marksman was in the process of getting a private insurance policy to protect him against injury during the two-week summer-league schedule. Real Madrid had forbidden Lampe from playing until yesterday.

Practices begin at the Knicks' Westchester facility today with a double session. Lampe, compared to Dirk Nowitzki, is expected to fly in this morning from Chicago and could be in uniform for the second session.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Sources familiar with the talks said Real Madrid is more ready to make a deal than it was two weeks ago. Already, progress has been made in reducing the $2 million buyout figure and convincing the Spanish team to allow some sort of payment plan. Lampe has to pay all but $350,000 of the buyout.

Suddenly, the 18-year-old Lampe not only looks like he's going to make it in the NBA, but he may be ready to contribute this season. Lampe last night followed up Wednesday's 21-point performance with a 13-point outing, making 6 of 15 shots. Though he missed a lot of his perimeter shots, Lampe scored most of his buckets inside, including two wonderful spin moves for layups in the Knicks' 96-78 loss to the Celtics.

Lampe was named this weekend to the First-Team All Revue after averaging 17.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in the five games. He shot 45 percent from 3-point range (9 of 20), finding the long-range touch that deserted him in Boston.